In the Beginning, God
Scripture: Genesis 1:1-25
Theme: God is the Creator of all things
Age Group: Nursery (Ages 0-2)
Overview
God made everything! The sky, the water, the land, the animals, and people too. God made everything good. This lesson uses simple sensory experiences to help babies and toddlers begin to understand that God is the Creator.
Bible Story
Before anything existed, there was God. God was always there!
God spoke and said, ‘Let there be light!’ And there was light! God made day and night.
God made the sky and the water. He made the land and the plants.
God made the sun, the moon, and the stars. He made the fish and the birds.
God made the animals , big ones and small ones. And then He made people!
God looked at everything He made and said, ‘It is very good!’ God loves what He made.
Activities
Creation Sensory Bins
Supplies: Shallow bins or trays, Blue water beads or fabric, Yellow pompoms, Green felt or fabric, Small toy animals, Cotton balls for clouds
- Set out sensory bins with different textures representing creation.
- Let babies/toddlers explore each bin while you say simple words: ‘God made the water!’ ‘God made the animals!’
- Repeat the key verse slowly as they explore.
- Hold up each item and say, ‘God made this!’
God Made Me! Touch and Feel
Supplies: A simple mirror, Soft fabric, Gentle music
- Hold each child and point to their eyes: ‘God made your eyes to see!’
- Touch their hands: ‘God made your hands to hold!’
- Gently bounce them: ‘God made your legs to jump!’
- Sing a simple song: ‘God made me, God made me, yes He did!’
Discussion Questions
- What did God make? (Point to things in the room)
- Who made the animals?
- Did God make you? Yes! God made you!
- Is God happy with what He made? Yes! God said it is good!
- Can you name something God made?
- Is God bigger than the sky?
Prayer Focus
Thank You, God, for making everything! Thank You for making me! Amen.
Missions Spotlight
The Bushmen of the Kalahari Desert in southern Africa have an ancient story about a Creator God. For thousands of years, they have known that someone made the world. Now missionaries are sharing the full story of Genesis with them, and many Bushmen are learning that the Creator God is the God of the Bible, the God who sent Jesus!
To the Cross
God created everything good and perfect. He made people to be close to Him. But later, people sinned and broke that perfect world. That’s why Jesus came, to fix what was broken and make everything new again. The God who created the world is the same God who sent Jesus to save it.
Teaching Tips
- Engage through Sensory Experience
- Leverage the Class Size for Participation
- Ask Observational “Hard Questions”
- Conclude with a Repetitive Narrative
Family Take-Home
This week we learned that God made everything, the sky, the land, the animals, and us! Everything God made was good. We can thank God for His wonderful creation.